HIDDEN WEAPONS UNITED

By Megan Earley

CHAPTER 7

"Destine why won’t you tell me how you did that?" Mousse climbed into his seat and sat down. "I’m dying to know how you were able to get a perfect shot without your glasses."

Destine sat down and turned the key in the ignition. "I told you already. I don’t rely on just my sight. Yoshi was making so much noise that I could have figured out where he was even if it was pitch black in there. Also I could make out his basic form." She looked behind her and backed the truck out into the parking lot. "Shall we get home and fix dinner?"

"Um, sure." Mousse leaned back and closed his eyes. "What did he mean by if he beat you you would have to marry him? Is he an Amazon or something?"

"No he’s part of a dojo that sees women as inferior and if there is a woman that can beat you in fighting, you must train harder to defeat her for she is worthy of being your wife. Yoshi challenged me when we were 13. I thoroughly trounced him and he’s been trying to beat me ever since." She stopped at the light and turned on her turn signal. "Don’t worry about it Mousse. Unless he cheats he can’t beat me."

"That’s what worries me." Mousse put his hand on her shoulder and smiled. "Look, if it’s within my power I will make sure that no one hurts you through treachery."

"Thanks friend."

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"Destine home. And she bring food." Shampoo walked up to Destine and Mousse with a smile on her face. "You have good time?"

"Yeah until I ran into and old ‘friend’." Destine set the bags on the counter and pulled out the meat and put it away. "I’m going to go and get changed. I’ll be out in a few minutes to help fix dinner." Destine walked down the hall to her room. She shut the door behind her and, opening up her backpack, pulled out a robe and a pair of pants. She had just finished slipping them on when she heard the door open. "What do you need Mousse?"

"I was wondering if you wanted me to come with you tonight." Mousse shut the door and sat down in the chair.

"You can come if you want to but nothing’s going to happen." She pulled her sash out of the backpack and tied it around her waist. "I don’t think he’s gotten much better." She turned around and smiled. "But I guess I could always use some backup. Ready to go fix dinner?"

"You bet. Do you have a wok that we could use?"

"Yeah it’s under the counter. I’ll do the cutting and you can do the cooking. Sound fair?" Destine slipped on a pair of slippers and followed Mousse down the hall.

"Fine with me. Do you know how to make the sauces?"

"Yes, which one’s do you want me to make?"

"Just some teriyaki." Mousse stepped into the kitchen and pulled the wok out from under the counter. "Where’s the oil?"

"Right above you silly. If you got any closer it would bite you." Destine pulled the vegetables out of the bag and set them in the sink. She turned on the water and scrubbed the vegetables clean. Pulling out a cutting board she set the vegetables down and chopped them into bite sized pieces. She put the remainder back in the bags and placed them in the refrigerator. She pulled out the meat and cut half of it into thin slices. She put the rest back into the bag and placed it in the meat drawer in the fridge. "Here’s the stuff Mousse." She put the vegetables in a bowl and set it on the counter next to the wok.

"Thanks Des-chan." Mousse turned and picked up the meat. He put it in the wok and started stirring it.

Destine got out another bowl and started to make the sauce. After she finished, she handed the bowl to Mousse and started to clean up her mess. "The rest is up to you Mousse." She washed her hands and sat down next to Shampoo and Ryoga.

"Sure thing. Dinner will be ready in about an hour."

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Tide leaned back and smiled. "Great dinner you two. You can cook any time you want."

Mousse smiled and cleared the dishes. "I’ll wash up. You ready Destine?"

"Yeah, let me go get something first and then we can get going." She stood up and walked to her room. Inside she pulled a small box from her closet and opened it. "I never thought I’d have to use these." She pulled out a pair of daggers and a collapsible staff. She slipped them into her robe and walked back into the kitchen. Mousse was finishing up the dishes. She walked up to him and tapped his shoulder. "Ready?"

"Just a second." Mousse set the last dish in the drying rack and turned around. "Ready."

Destine grabbed the keys and turned to Tide. "I have an engagement that I need to get to. It would be bad form if I turned down a match."

Tide nodded and smiled. "Try not to beat them too far into the ground."

"I won’t." Destine laughed and walked out the door. She climbed into the truck and turned it on. Switching on the lights she pulled out onto the street. After a few minutes she pulled up alongside a tall building. "I guess this is the place." She looked at the address on the piece of paper. "Shall we knock?" She climbed out of the truck and walked up to the door.

Mousse followed behind her and looked around. "So this is the famous Yokohama Dojo. I hear they only accept the best of the best to join them."

"They must be desperate if the allowed Yoshi to join." Destine rapped her fist against the door.

It opened slowly and a tall man stood in front of them. "What do you want girl?"

"Invite from Yoshi. I came here to show him up again."

The man laughed and moved out of the way. "So you’re Destine then. I here you prove to be a pretty good foe. Follow me." He turned and walked down the hallway. "Yoshi is merely a trainee that we took in because his father paid us a lot of money to train him. You still living with Tide?"

"Yes. I just returned."

The man pointed to a door. "He’s waiting for you in there. You may go in but your friend must remain here. He can watch through the window."

"All right." Destine opened the door and stepped inside. "Yoshi you have challenged me and I accept. Show yourself."

"Gladly." Yoshi stepped out of the shadows brandishing a long curved sword. "Now we’ll see who’s the better fighter after these years. A one on one battle until one of us surrenders. Agree?"

Destine smiled and nodded. "I accept the conditions. But you should know that I have improved as well."

"Oh I’m sure you have. That’s why it will be so much more fulfilling when I beat you." He set the sword on the ground and turned to the window. "Why not invite your friend in?"

"He’s just fine where he is. Now are we going to fight or just stand and stare all night?"

"Fine let’s begin." Yoshi bowed to Destine and picked up his sword. Destine bowed as well and assumed her fighting stance. "Have at you woman. Hiyaa!" Yoshi ran forward and swung the sword.

"CHAIN SHIELD!" Destine blocked the move and grinned. "Now for my first attack, CLAW OF THE EAGLES!" Claws shot out from her sleeves and she proceeded to attack with such vigor that Yoshi was forced to retreat back into his corner. Destine raised her arms up and brought the claws down on his sword slicing it into many pieces. She retracted the claws back into her robe and grinned. "Now it’s just hand to hand. She ran forward and jumped into the air. Yoshi looked up just in time to see Destine perform a scissor kick. It connected with his shoulder and sent him flying. "Had enough Yoshi?"

"I won’t lose to you!" He ran at her screaming.

Destine moved slightly out of the way and, grabbing him by the collar, flipped him. She grabbed his right arm and pinned it behind his back. "If you don’t wish it to be broken I suggest you give up."

"ENOUGH!" A loud voice filled the room and an old man stepped out o the shadows. "He is beaten now let him go Mekana."

Destine dropped Yoshi and turned to face the old man. "What did you just call me?"

"Come now, I would recognize you anywhere child. After all you are destined to fight for me. My name is Yosho. I sent my son Yoshi to follow you after we failed to take you with us. Now he has brought you back to me and I can see that you are more powerful than he has described. If you come with me peacefully I promise your friend won’t get hurt." He pointed to the door.

A group of men walked in dragging Mousse with them. Destine whirled around and rushed towards the men. "You hurt him I’ll kill you!"

The men looked at her and started laughing, "A girl kill us? That’s a good one. Go away girl." One of them grabbed her by the collar and tossed her away. She landed with a soft thud near Yosho.

"Ah I see you care deeply about him, something we’re going to have to train out of you." He helped her up and turned her to face the men. "Gentlemen. This is the one the scroll has told us about. She will lead us into a new age of glory."

Destine shoved Yosho away and glared. "I will not do anything of the sort. I belong to no one and there isn’t anyone who can convince me otherwise." She swung her arm away from herself and hundreds of black darts went flying toward the men. The darts hit in certain points so that the men were paralyzed. She ran forward and grabbed Mousse. "Let’s get out of here!" She ran out the door and down the hall. Reaching the front door she reached into her sleeve and pulled out a small popper bomb. She pulled the pin and threw it at the door. The bomb exploded leaving a hole for them to get through. Destine ran down the steps and opened the truck doors. "Get in. Hurry." She climbed in her side and turned on the ignition. The truck roared to life and took off just as Mousse jumped in. "Hold on." Destine put the car into overdrive and turned onto the main road.

"Where did you learn that dart technique?"

"That’s that master attack that men learn. I knew it would come in handy someday. We need to get back home and let Tide know about this."

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"Destine what’s wrong?" Ryoga rushed to the door as Destine and Mousse burst inside.

Destine looked around. "Where’s Tide? I must speak with her."

"She’s in her room, what’s the problem?" Ryoga grabbed Destine’s arm and tried to slow her down. "You can tell me."

"You really want to know? They found me. The men who kidnapped me as a child have found me again. Now let go!" Destine slapped his wrist and jerked her hand free. She took off down the hallway and ran into Tide’s room.

Tide looked up. "Destine what happened?"

"They found me. The men from that dojo. They have been watching me my entire life. Remember Yoshi? He’s the Dojo leader’s son. They have been testing me since I was 13."

"Calm down. If they show up here we will make them leave. They have no right to come here and if they don’t leave we’ll call the police."

Destine lay down on the bed and sighed. "I guess you’re right. But I must disappear again. I can’t let them endanger you or anyone else."

"Child, you are safe here. You need not leave for our sake. Your brother Ryoga has promised to protect you with his life. And Mousse and Shampoo will never let anyone harm you if they can help it."

Destine sat up. "All right. I guess I can stay here." She stood up and walked to the door. "I’ll be in my room if you need me."

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"Destine? Mind if I come in? Destine?" Ryoga opened the door and looked inside. "Destine" He looked over to the night stand and saw an envelope. He walked over and picked it up. "To: Everyone." He opened the envelope and read the note inside.

(Dear everyone,)

(I’m sorry that I have caused you all this trouble.)

(I have left in hopes of luring the dojo away. Mousse, don’t try getting a)

(hold of me on the transmitter. I have blocked the number.)

(Ryoga, Brother, I’m sorry that I dragged you into this. Take care of)

(Taelesin for me. I promise to return soon.)

(Mekana)

"MOUSSE! SHAMPOO!" Ryoga ran out of the room and into Tide. "BIG PROBLEM!"

Tide looked at him and took the note. She read it and sighed. Flipping it over she pulled out a pen and wrote on it. "Calm down Ryoga. She’ll be just fine. Let’s go tell Mousse and Shampoo about this." She turned and walked into the living room. Taelesin looked up and wagged his tail. When he saw the look on Tide’s face he tucked his tail between his legs and crawled under the couch.

Ryoga walked over to Mousse and set his hand on Mousse’s shoulder. "We have a problem."

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ONE YEAR LATER

Mousse stared out the window into the night. It had been a year since Destine had disappeared. He had been training under the careful watch of Tide and was now able to beat Ryoga even when he wasn’t wearing his glasses. He and Shampoo found jobs at local restaurants and helped Tide take care of the house. Ryoga did most of the cooking and taking care of the firewood.

Mousse sighed and lay down on his bed. "Where is she?"

"I don’t see why you keep looking out the window. If she’s going to return she will come back on her own time." Ryoga rolled over and turned out the light. "Try to get some sleep."

"Easy for you to say." Mousse stood up and walked to the kitchen. He turned on the stove and set a kettle of water on to boil. ‘I wish she’d come back. I’m so worried about her.’

Taelesin trotted into the room and sat by Mousse’s feet. Mousse reached down and scratched his ears. "You’re worried about her too aren’t you boy?" The tea kettle began to whistle and Mousse took it from the stove. He poured some into a cup and added some tea leaves. "I guess we just have to wait. She will return, she promised." He looked into his cup and watched the water turn dark brown. He was about to take a drink when he heard a scratching sound at the front door. ‘No who could that be at this hour?’ He picked up a large metal soup spoon and headed for the front door. He arrived just in time to see the door open and a figure walk in.

"Get out burglar!" Mousse lunged at the figure and swung the spoon with all his might. He knocked the person to the ground. "Now we’ll see who you are." He flipped on the light switch next to the door and jumped. "Destine?"

END CHAPTER 7